cut off

(redirected from cutting us off)

cut off

1. verb Literally, to remove something from something else by cutting. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "cut" and "off." Your plant might bloom again if you cut off the dead flowers.

2. verb To abruptly move in front of another driver, either intentionally or unintentionally. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "cut" and "off." Can you believe that jerk cut me off like that? I nearly hit him!

3. verb To interrupt one and stop them from talking. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "cut" and "off." After my mom had been droning on for nearly five minutes, I just had to cut her off.Hey, don't cut me off—I'm not done my story.

4. verb To stop something from working; to turn something off. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "cut" and "off." When the fuse blew, it cut off the power to the entire second floor.Look, if you don't pay your bill, the electric company will cut off your electricity.

5. verb To stop giving money to someone or something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "cut" and "off." My parents have threatened to cut me off as soon as I turn 30, so I need to find a job.If the school board cuts off funding for the arts, then what will become of the theater program?

6. verb To change direction. Follow the river to where it cuts off to the left and then you'll see the picnic area.

7. verb To turn off a particular road. And then you cut off here and get on this dirt road. I swear we're almost there.

8. verb To prevent access to a particular area or thing. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "cut" and "off." I had to take a detour because the water department had blocked a bunch of streets, cutting me off from my house.

9. verb To isolate or sequester someone. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "cut" and "off." The investigators plan to cut the suspect off from his bosses, in the hope that he will confess.

10. verb To end unexpectedly or abruptly. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "cut" and "off." No one was disappointed when the principal's microphone came unplugged, cutting off his speech.Aw man, why did the music cut off?

11. verb To intercept something The humanitarian supplies

12. In baseball, to intercept a ball that has been thrown to a different player. The shortstop cut off the throw from the outfield, but the runner had already scored.

13. verb To disinherit or disown someone. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "cut" and "off." If you continue to fight with your mother like this, she may just cut you off and leave you with nothing.

14. verb To stop serving one alcohol, typically because they are intoxicated. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "cut" and "off." They're going to cut off Tina if she keeps acting like that in here.

15. adjective Indicating an end point for something. In this usage, the phrase is usually written as one word. The cutoff date for the contest is tomorrow, so I hope you've finished your entry.

16. adjective In baseball, describing one who intercepts a ball thrown to a different player. In this usage, the phrase is usually written as one word. The shortstop acted as the cutoff man and then threw the ball to the catcher.

17. adjective Too intoxicated to keep being served alcohol. When I nearly fell off my stool for the third time, the bartender told me that I was cut off.

18. noun The act of ending or stopping something. In this usage, the phrase is usually written as one word. If there is a cutoff of funding, then what will become of the theater program?

19. noun A deadline. In this usage, the phrase is usually written as one word. When is the cutoff for applications to be sent in?

20. noun Pants that have been cut into shorts, typically with a ragged hem. In this usage, the phrase is usually written as one word and pluralized ("cutoffs"). I had only brought jeans with me on the trip, and it was so hot that I had to turn them into cutoffs.

cut someone or something off (from something)

cut someone or something off (short)

Fig. to interrupt someone or something; to prevent someone from continuing to speak. (See also chop someone off.) In the middle of her sentence, the teacher cut her off short.Bob cut off Mary when she was trying to explain.

cut off

1. Separate from others, isolate, as in The construction debris cut off the workers from the canteen, or The new sect was cut off from the church. [Late 1500s]

2. Stop suddenly, discontinue, as in He quickly cut off the engine, or The drama was cut off by a news flash about tornado warnings. [Late 1500s]

3. Shut off, bar, Their phone was cut off when they didn't pay the bill, or Tom's father threatened to cut off his allowance. [c. 1600]

4. Interrupt the course or passage of, intercept, as in The operator cut us off, or The shortstop cut off the throw to the plate. [Late 1500s]

5. Also, cut off with a shilling or cent . Disinherit, as in Grandfather cut him off with a shilling. This usage dates from the early 1700s; the purpose of bequeathing one shilling (a small sum) was to indicate that the heir had not been overlooked but was intentionally being disinherited. In America cent was substituted from about 1800 on.

Murdo Fraser, Tory finance spokesman, said: "This biggest threat to prosperity in Scotland is not from a Conservative government, but from Nicola Sturgeon's obsession with cutting us off from our biggest market, the rest of the UK.

The dilemma is that such protection can lull us into depending on remote guardians to protect us from remote threats - cutting us off more and more from the direct experience of what keeps us adaptive and alive.

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